Zen clock

Emily sent this link to a cool clock today. The clock shows the year, month, date, day, hour, minute and second at once. It gives me somewhat of a "Zen peace everything is aligned in the universe" sort of feel to look at it. Then again, it's the end of the day so maybe anything that's not associated with real work gives me that feeling. Who knows. Check it out.


http://home.tiscali.nl/annejan/swf/timeline.swf

Web searching and shopping for the common good

Today I attended the monthly meeting of a group of church communicators from the KC area. It's a great group and so good to get together with people facing the same joys and challenges in their jobs as I do. One of the people there, Jennifer, showed us two websites I thought I'd share:

www.igive.com / You can shop here at your favorite web retailers and they will donate a percentage of your purchase to a non-profit of your choice.

www.goodsearch.com / Use this site as a search engine (it's powered by Yahoo!) and Yahoo! will donate money to the non-profit you choose from a list. You can also list your non-profit here to receive donations.

Pregnancy etiquette, part 1

So far, it's been a joy to be pregnant. As a brief baby update, he (yes, he!) is doing very well and seems to still be a quite active and squirmy young one.

But what I'd really like to blog about today is one of the things that is not a joy about being pregnant, and that is when people knowingly or unknowingly breach the bounds of what I'll call pregnancy etiquette. So let this be a helpful guide for things not to do or say to people who are pregnant. For the record, I don't believe any of the people I know read this blog have committed any of these offenses, so don't be concerned that this is a veiled attempt to tell you anything!

I invite any of my pregnant or have-been-pregnant friends to contribute other ideas in the comments.

We'll start with a classic...

Uninvited tummy-touching. Now, I admit, there is a bit of gray area here. Not all tummy-touching is unwelcome, even if it is uninvited. For example, Emily is a tummy-toucher, but that doesn't bother me in the slightest becuase she is a close friend, and that's just who she is. But if you don't know someone that well, I'd recommend asking first.

Calling her fat. Why, oh why, would this be OK? But I really did have someone tell me "you're getting fat!" I think this was meant in the way of "you are starting to show," but still not appropriate under any circumstances. Think about it. A pregnant woman has like 25-30 pounds of weight gain in front of her that she really has no control over. And she gets weighed by a doctor once and month, and said weight is going to be commented on whether it's too much, not enough or just right. And everyone she walks up to who knows she's pregnant looks at her face and then her stomach (not necessarily in that order). And she needs people calling her fat? Other people are perhaps less sensitive than me, but in my world this also goes for "wow, you're really starting to show," "You're getting really big," or "You're huge!" (which hasn't been said to me yet but I've heard it said to others. I'm sure my time will come.)

Asking her if her pregnancy was planned. Yes, really. This has happened to me several times, the lastest being today and prompting this rant about pregnancy etiquette. I can't believe anyone would think it appropriate to ask this. I think I'd be slightly taken aback if even a close friend asked me that, but so far none of the people who have asked me (that I can recall) have been on a friendship level that would allow for that sort of question. Craig and I did plan our pregnancy and this question offends me, so I can only imagine if the pregnancy was not planned, you were a bit upset about it and you were trying to put your best face forward, and some yahoo has to come right out and ask you. So don't do it.

I believe this may become a series of blog posts as the pregnancy progresses, but we'll see! And just so it doesn't sound like I'm down on being pregnant (which I have loved so far), here are some of the joys of pregnancy:

seeing/hearing/feeling the baby move
anticipation of meeting the little one
an even more meaningful reason to eat right and exercise
an excitement added to each and every day
anticipation of change
the increased bond between you and your husband
sharing baby news and seeing your friends' excitement
wearing elastic waistbands and still being hip
and many others!

Baby pics

Craig and I had a sonogram Wednesday and wanted to post the pics...it's pretty amazing what you can see these days during a sonogram! The top picture is the baby's whole body in profile (the head is on the left). The bottom picture is the baby looking at us (the head is on the left side and you can see the eyes, nose and mouth).

Brain break

I received this link from my friend and co-worker Andrea as a terrific "brain break."

www.thesurrealist.co.uk/slogan.cgi

You just enter your name, and the website inserts it into a marketing slogan for you. My most recent was "If you've got the time, I've got the Nicole." It creates some pretty hilarious slogans.

If you go create a fun slogan, post it in comments for us to enjoy!

Serial reader

I have a problem I don't know how to solve. Here's an example. See all those books listed at the left under "recent reads"? Those are all books I was in the midst of reading when I started posting on this blog. With the exception of Simple Church, I haven't finished a one of them. And I have approximately 4-5 books that I've received/bought since then that I haven't even started.

Here's what usually happens: I LOVE a new book. So I get one and dive in. Then I stop having/making time to read and it sits for a while. Then a new book comes along and I get excited about that one and start reading it, but with limited time I don't go back to the other book. I'm a book-hopper. It really frustrates me. I'm also a craft-hopper (knitting, paper crafts, drawing, etc.), but let's take one issue at a time.

A haiku about Fridays

A long time ago in a comment, my sister said she thought I should write a daily haiku or something of that nature. Well, obviously I didn't take that challenge, but the prospect of a weekend ahead has me feeling a bit poetic, so here's a haiku about Fridays:

friday afternoon
freedom stretches out ahead
sweet release awaits

Can I get an amen?

An interesting way to give

I get an email newsletter each day called "5 minutes of caring" from an organization called Cool People Care. It just has little tidbits of things you can do to care for others in about 5 minutes. Today there were several websites listed where you can easily find ways to give this holiday season, and one I really liked was called DonorsChoose. It is a place where teachers can go and post needs they have from their classrooms, from pencil sharpeners to books to curriculum supplies, and then people go on the website and can choose to fund all or part of the teacher's needs. It was something I thought all my "teacher friends" would like to see!

An argument for doggy clothing

Craig and I have an ongoing discussion about whether dogs should be allowed to wear clothes/costumes. I say if the doggy is cold and there's a cute sweater he could wear to keep him warm, why not? Craig says under no circumstances should this happen. I believe these pictures are an argument for dog clothing and accessories. This is Mosley James, Joy's son and Mandy's nephew. Would you agree?

What I'm thankful for

Happy Thanksgiving!

Here are just a few things I'm thankful for...

an incredible group of friends
terrific family
a healthy baby (so far)
that God knows my heart and loves my anyway
a house we love
gainful employment
good books and music to expand the boundaries of my experience

There are so many things to be thankful for that making a list seems a bit futile...but those are a few things. I am thankful for each of you who reads this because you have added so much to my life!

Top kid names at PV

Today at work, our database manager, Ron, ran me off a list of the most common names of kids at Pleasant Valley as my own personalized baby names list. It was so thoughtful--I loved it! Here are the top 10:

• Jacob
• Austin
• Zachary
• Hannah
• Madison
• Tyler
• Lauren
• Matthew
• Caleb
• Grace

Chronic(what?)cles of Narnia

You guys may have seen this video from Saturday Night Live before...I don't know why, but every time I watch it I think it's just about the funniest thing I've ever heard. I think this link is the easiest way to get there.

FYI, there is one bleeped out bad word, and if you let the video player keep going so it plays the Natalie Portman rap afterwards, there's lots more. We do not want to offend on the Nicole Swanson blog.

Our new bathroom

I had promised a blog post with pictures of our remodeled bathroom, so here it goes! Craig worked really really hard and with minimal help from me--but with lots of help from Billy Ford on the tiling! Thanks to Paul too for his help and lending his nice paintbrushes!


This first picture is the BEFORE before picture--when we first moved in, just to give you some context of where we came from. Note the shiny pink wallpaper.



This picture is "during," we'd already changed the walls to blue but were now replacing the flooring and the sink and repainting the walls.
Ahhh...after. Much better. :)

Emily Ann Jewelry online debut!

Three posts in one day...it really is either feast or famine on my blog! But I am so excited about this so I had to share immediately!

Many of you know my friend Carrie Plummer, and some of you also know that she is a jewelry designer of great talent and creativity. Some of her creations from her jewelry line, Emily Ann, are now available for purchase online at The Soap Box Company (www.thesoapboxco.com Go to "products," then "gifts" to see the jewelry with prices.) Go check them out! All are one-of-a-kind and handmade. If you see one you like that is no longer available, she can make similar items, or even custom items. I own several pieces and never fail to get compliments on them!

Look around the Soap Box website while you're there...it has really fun natural bath and body care products (I've blogged about it before.) .

Something to think about this Thanksgiving

If 20 people sit down at your Thanksgiving table, representing the world’s population:

3 would be served a gourmet, multi-course meal, while sitting at decorated table and a cushioned chair.

5 would eat rice and beans with a fork and sit on a simple cushion

12 would wait in line to receive a small portion of rice that they would eat with their hands while sitting on the floor.

This info came from the One organization.

Scoops/SRO... Rest In Peace

Sad news for Liberty-ites...Scoops, formerly known as SRO, is closed down for good. We tried to go there about a week ago and it was closed...not the kind where it reopens tomorrow, but the kind where the chairs are all stacked up and everything's piled in front of the door. Then Craig drove by yesterday and there was a sign on the door that said "Tony's Cajun Cafe coming soon." So let's take a moment, all you who have fond memories of good times and good frozen custard, and post a comment about your favorite Scoops/SRO memory.

I've had many a tasty treat at Scoops, but I'm sure my favorite memory is the night Craig and I got engaged...we went to (then) SRO and got custard, then went up to William Jewell and sat on the tree swing together, and that's where Craig popped the question.

What's your favorite memory (or your favorite frozen custard concoction?)

I think it's safe now...

In an attempt to return to a regular blogging schedule, which I have clearly not been on even after Mandy's best efforts to get me back on track, I'm going to blog about what actually has been on my mind the last several months! I think it's safe because I've gotten to tell most of the folks who look at my blog (all 8 of you) that Craig and I are having a baby in May! It's been hard to think of other things to blog when, let's face it, that takes up 97% of my thoughts.

So I can say that we went to the doctor yesterday and heard the baby's heart beat again, which is good stuff! All seems to be well at this point. We were supposed to meet our actual doctor for the first time, but we saw a different doctor. They didn't explain and we didn't ask because we were in and out so fast!

Anyway, I promise this won't totally turn in to "baby blog," but I'll definintely keep you updated!

The first trip to Crate and Barrel

I have been called out by Mandy Sharp on my lack of blogging activity, so thank you for keeping me accountable, Mandy!!

Last night I went to the new Crate and Barrel. My friend Hannah and I went to a benefit they had for Children's Mercy where they opened the store a day early and we bought a ticket and went to shop and eat fancy hors d'oeuvres and rub shoulders with rich people. Or at least they looked like rich people. I actually just bought coffee for Craig (a special blend by Intelligentsia, our tourist destination coffee shop in Chicago) and some tablecloths and napkins for my mom. But I'm sure there will many future purchases, and it was just good to be in C&B in my own city!

Kid encouragement

I was not feeling so thrilled about going to work today. I was still tired from driving home from Chicago yesterday, I am behind on some things at home and just wasn't feeling it. Then there was a wreck right in front of the road I need to turn onto to go to work, so I had to go way out and around and come in another way. Then a couple work-related things happened. So needless to say I was in a bad mood. But then I went to my mailbox, and there were 5 notes that kids in our Awana program had created to appreciate the staff. They were so cute and heartfelt that I couldn't help but feel a bit better. Below is one of my favorites.

Acoustic Ninja coming to town!

I am so pumped about this!! Trace Bundy, aka the "Acoustic Ninja," is playing at the Uptown Theater Nov. 3 at 7:30. I've seen Trace play several times and it just about defies description. He plays a style of acoustic guitar unlike anything you've ever seen, and the best suggestion I have is to go to his website, www.tracebundy.com, and watch the videos.

He's coming to the Uptown with a band called Urban John, and they are described as an ambient, groove-driven trio, which sounds interesting to me!

Tickets are only $10 and you can get them here.